Tributes have been paid to a 54-year-old man who died after he slipped on ice.
James Hirst, known as Jim, pictured, is believed to have hit his head on a neighbour’s doorstep after falling on Worsley Street where he lived.
Mr Hirst, who lived alone following the death of his mum Vera in October last year, was found several hours later at 8am by neighbours.
Police said an ambulance was called but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem was due to be carried out on Wednesday and an inquest date is expected to be set soon.
Mr Hirst fell after being dropped off by a taxi at 1.30am on Sunday morning after visiting the Abbey Pub and the Swan Hotel.
Tributes have flooded in for Mr Hirst from neighbours and friends. Jim Walsh, 74, has lived at the top of Worsley Street, just yards from where Mr Hirst slipped, for more than 30 years.
The retired plasterer said: “It’s shocking. If we had heard anything we would have helped. But we didn’t and we couldn’t do anything. He was very pleasant and we always had a chat when he passed.”
Mike Morris, the Abbey landlord, said he was gobsmacked by the news.
He said: “It is just terrible. I can’t believe it. Jim was a popular lad and was in our pub on Saturday. For him to be laying there that long is awful.”
Susan Tattersall, of Worsley Street, said a handrail is needed on the road because it is so steep.
She added: “It is a terrible street, especially in cold conditions. He was a good neighbour. It is terrible to hear this.”
According to his friends, Mr Hirst had previously worked at Holland’s Pies and at the old Pickle Factory in Oswaldtwistle.
They said he was hoping to get back working again - following the death of his mum who he'd cared for - as a bricklayer.
Detective Inspector Mark Vaughton, of Lancashire police, said: “It is a very tragic incident that involved a man slipping on ice. A 54-year-old man who was a resident in Worsley Street was found at 8am on Sunday after falling and banging his head.
“He was walking down towards his home, where we believe he has slipped and fallen on the ice and banged his head on the doorstep of a property.”
